Can the Ravens Surpass the Wild Card Next Year?

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride—that’s become the defining narrative for the Baltimore Ravens, a franchise perpetually knocking on the door of greatness but unable to kick it down. Preseason rankings had Baltimore as the No. 1 roster in the NFL heading into 2025, driven by Lamar Jackson off a near-MVP 2024 campaign and what looked like the most complete lineup in football. Instead, they finished 8–9, missed the playoffs entirely, and watched their Super Bowl dreams evaporate before the snow had even begun to settle.

When Hype Met Hard Reality

In 2024, Baltimore went 12–5, won the AFC North, and advanced to the Divisional Round after dispatching Pittsburgh in the Wild Card. They lost a tight playoff battle to Buffalo, but the season felt like validation rather than failure. The offense was record-setting, becoming the first team in NFL history to top 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a single regular season.

Lamar finished as an MVP finalist, and the roster around him looked deep at nearly every position. Combined with a 13–4 AFC Championship Game run in 2023, Baltimore entered 2025 with a two-year record of 27–11, including playoffs.

Expectations soared into the season. Analysts ranked the Ravens no. 1, blending Jackson’s elite dual-threat game with Derrick Henry, a loaded defense, and +650 Super Bowl odds from any online sportsbook that would listen; the hype peaked.

That’s what made 2025 so jarring: The Ravens stumbled through a season marked by inconsistency, poor game management, and a stunning defensive regression. By January, their championship odds had stumbled to +1600, reflecting how far they’d fallen from contender status. The first losing season and playoff miss since 2021 wasn’t just disappointing relative to the hype. It felt like a wasted opportunity with a championship-caliber roster.

Bright Spots in a Frustrating Season

Despite the overall disappointment, 2025 wasn’t without its moments. The Week 15 road shutout of the Bengals was Baltimore’s statement performance. They traveled to face Joe Burrow in freezing conditions and delivered a dominant 24–0 victory.

Lamar connected on explosive touchdown throws to Rasheen Ali and Zay Flowers while Derrick Henry ripped off 100 yards on just 11 carries. The defense sealed it with an 84-yard pick-lateral touchdown for their first shutout since 2018, keeping playoff hopes alive heading into the final stretch.

Even in defeat, individual brilliance occasionally shone through. Henry’s Week 16 performance against the Patriots showcased peak form with 18 carries for 128 yards and two touchdowns. The physical tone had Baltimore up 24–13 in the fourth quarter before the collapse overshadowed what should have been celebrated as one of the season’s best individual efforts.

Looking ahead to 2026, Baltimore moves from presumed contender to prove-it territory. The talent base remains strong, and Lamar is still a franchise quarterback. On the upside alone, they belong in early championship conversations. But after 2025’s collapse, Ravens Nation knows the questions are legitimate.

Three Keys to Getting Back on Track Lock Down Lamar’s Future

The most pressing issue facing Baltimore this offseason is Lamar Jackson’s contract situation. This guy deserves a ring. His salary cap number is scheduled to jump from $43.5 million to a staggering $74.5 million, creating massive financial complications for a team projected to have just $20.8 million in cap space. That ranks 18th in the NFL and severely limits their ability to address roster needs without a restructure.

Extending Lamar before free agency isn’t just about finances. It’s about defining the window. Championship rosters require clarity at the most critical position. Uncertainty around the quarterback creates ripple effects throughout the entire organization. Lock in Lamar on a long-term deal that provides cap flexibility, then build aggressively around him while the window is still wide open.

Resurrect the Pass Rush

The defensive collapse in 2025 started up front. Baltimore’s sack production nosedived from one of the league’s best to near the bottom. The secondary was exposed, despite heavy investment in first-round picks like Nate Wiggins and Malaki Starks, with no consistent pressure. They ranked 31st in pass defense despite having one of the NFL’s top safeties, Kyle Hamilton, and spending significant resources at cornerback.

The GM, Eric DeCosta, has already acknowledged publicly that generating pressure must improve. Talented defensive backs can only cover for so long when quarterbacks sit comfortably in clean pockets.

The Ravens built their reputation on dominant defensive fronts. Getting back to that standard means more heat on quarterbacks and fewer long, draining drives surrendered. Whether that comes through scheme adjustments or personnel upgrades, 2026 simply can’t look like a repeat of 2025’s sack numbers.

Commit to an Offensive Identity

At their best, the Ravens have a crystal-clear offensive identity built around a quarterback-led run game, physical edges, and an attack that stresses defenses horizontally and vertically. In down years, they drift into something more muddled. Not fully a spread passing team. Not entirely the downhill, bully-ball attack either.

This isn’t about assigning blame or creating fictional feuds. It’s about organizational honesty. Even great quarterbacks and successful coaches can hit a point where the offensive direction feels stale and needs a reset. John Elway and Dan Reeves faced this exact dynamic in Denver during the late 1980s, eventually leading to changes that unlocked championship runs. The situation wasn’t about conflict. It’s sometimes about admitting the old formula had peaked and committing to something new.

Baltimore doesn’t necessarily need a dramatic overhaul. What they need is an honest evaluation. Are they building an offense that fully reflects their quarterback and their personnel, or are they stuck between conflicting versions of themselves?

Final Thoughts

Ravens Nation knows we’re at a crossroads entering 2026, and the season looks very interesting indeed. The following 12 months will answer whether Baltimore can finally break through or if we’re destined to remain championship bridesmaids indefinitely. For a franchise and fanbase that’s waited long enough, the time for answers is now.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/02/10/street-talk/ravens-2026-season/